Key container



y 1958 R. M. STARRETT 2,836,053

KEY CONTAINER Filed March 15, 1ess 2 22 .9; 1/9 4 7 INVENTOR .zz, 5M

2 g" 5 Y ATTORNEYS,

nited rates Patent" 1 2,836,053 KEY CONTAINER Rupert M. Starrett, Bridgeport, Conn. Application March 15, 1955, Serial No. 494,520 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to a key container, and has for an object to provide a device for holding a plurality of keys in such a way that any individual key may be easily selected and shifted from an inoperative or retracted position within a casing or holder to a position for use, and then after use may be easily and quickly shifted back to its inoperative position in the casing or holder.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which the container comprises a body or casing in which are mounted a plurality of holders each individually shiftable from 'a retracted position in the casing to a position outside the casing, and which holder is provided with means for mounting a key shiftable to an inoperative position within the holder to an extended position for use, and there is a manually operable release caich for each holder to maintain it normally locked in a retracted position within the casing or housing, including a manually operable means for releasing each individual catch so that any desired key holder may be released to permit selection of any particular key for use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a form of the device with a portion broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing one of the holders shift d part way out of the casing;

Fig. 4 is a detail section of a portion of the casing at one end and showing the means for mounting a holder, looking toward the bottom of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the holder and key extended into operative position for use of the key;

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the key holders;

Fig. 7 is an end view looking toward the bottom of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an edge view of one of the releasable catches for the holders, and

Fig. 9 is a side view thereof.

The form of the device shown by way of example comprises a housing or casing 10 of suitable material, which may be metal or plastic, for example, and comprises a hollow construction open at the top by a substantially rectangular opening 11 extending through one end of the casing, in this case the left hand end as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Mounted in the casing is a plurality of key holders 12, and they are so mounted that they are normally held in a retracted position within the casing and individually shiftable from this position to a position outside the casing where a key mounted in each holder may be exposed for use. In thearrangement shown each holder 12 is pivoted at one end of the casing,

and a convenient and satisfactory way is by means of a transverse hinge pin or shaft 13 extending transversely of the casing and supported at its opposite ends in the oppositeside walls of the casing, as indicated'at 14 and 15, and threaded into the casing at one end as indicated at 15. The holder may be of different forms, but is 2,836,053 Patented May 27, 1958 preferably of substantially U-shape as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with opposite side walls 16 connected by a transverse wall 17. The side walls are spaced sufficiently to receive a lock key 13, and this key is preferably pivotally mounted in the holder by means of the usual opening in the key and by suitable pivot means cooperating therewith, such, for example, as pivot lugs 19 on the inner sides of the opposite side walls 16 and seating in the opening in the key. The side walls of the holder preferably have sufiicient spring or resilient action to separate or yield laterally to permit insertion of the key between them and then to frictionally grip opposite sides of the key, either by the side walls themselves or the tapered lugs 19 frictionally engaging the sides of the opening in the key to thus frictionally retain the key in the holder. The side walls 16 are cut away, however, as shown at 20, to expose sufiicient of the key to permit it to be gripped between a thumb and finger, for example, to swing it from its position in the holder to a position outside the holder for use.

At the opposite end from the pivot pin 13 the housing or casing has a preferably rounded end wall 21, and means is provided in the casing for releasably retaining the key holders 12 in their retracted position in the casing, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This catch may be of various forms, but a satisfactory and efiective form, as shown, comprises a slide 22 in the form of an elongated plate, one mounted at one side of each of the key holders l2 and each having at one end an elongated slot 23 through which extends the pivot pin 13, thus permitting this catch to slide on this pin. At its opposite end the catch has a lug 24 extending through and slidably mounted in a slot 25 in the curved end wall 21 of the casing, and projects therefrom as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, whereby it is accessible for operation by pressure of a thumb or finger or any individual catch. Each catch has a transverse opening 26 adjacent this end of the catch through which passes a coil spring 27 secured at its opposite ends 28 to the opposite side walls of the casing and supported between each slide by an intermediate cross wall or partition 29 within the curved end wall 21 of the casing. Thus this spring is supported on each of the opposite sides of each of the slides or catches 22, and in effect forms an individually supported spring for each catch or slide to normally retain it in its holding or locking position, which is the position of Figs. 1 and 2, and permits this catch or slide to be shifted to the left or into position to release the holder held by each individual catch, as indicated in Fig. 3. For locking each holder in its retracted position it is provided with a notch 3G in its side wall and the catch or slide 22 is provided with a lug 31 projecting from one side thereof and adapted to seat in the notch 30, as shown in Fig. 2, to secure the key holder in its retracted or folded position Within the casing. This notch faces toward the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, and therefore when the catch 22 is shifted to the left by pressing inwardly on the lug 24 the lug 31 is shifted out of the notch 30 and releases the holder. The edge of the side wall of the holder at the outer side of the recess may be inclined as indicated at 32 to have a carnming action on the lug 31 to shift the catch 22 to the left against action of the spring 27. whenthe holder is shifted from the position outsidethe casing as shown in Fig. 3, to its normal retracted position in the casing, after which the spring 27 will shift the catch 22 to the right to shift the lug 31 into the notch or recess 30 and lock the holder within the casing.

A spring is provided to shift each individual holder from its position within the casing to a position outside the casing when its holding catch is r eleased. con: venient and simple form is a wire spring 33 located becasing or housing, but it 'is'sufiicient if it shifts it out suificiently to permit it to be readily gripped by the user forswinging it to the operative position. As shown inFig. .l, the series of holders i2 are pivoted side by side on the transverse pivot pin 13 at one side of each holder, and therefore between adjacent holders, the slidable .catch .22 is mounted. This catch and the holders are of a width so that when in the retracted or closed 1 position their top edges arein the plane of the top surfaces 37 ofzthe opposite sidewalls of the housing and fill the opening 11in this wall .to thus provide with the end walls a smooth top wall for the housing or casing, and the top edge of the catch slide 22 may be provided with :a .stop shoulder 38 to .engage the top edge 39 of the curved and wall .21 of the casing.

' The operation .is as follows: As previously indicated, the normal or closed position is'shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with thekey folded into its individual holder and the holders" all swung to their retracted positions within the housing and locked therein by the catches 22 by means of the lugs 31 f each catch seating in the notch or recess 32"," in each keyholder, and retained therein by the spring .27. :If the operator wishes to use any individual key he presses inwardly on the proper lng 24 for that particular key, forcing the catch slide 22 inwardly and shifting the-lug 31 on that slide from its notch 39in the corresponding key holder. This releases the key holderand permits its spring 33 to swing this holder about its pivot :13 from its position withinrthe housing tea position outside, as indicated in Fig. 3. The operator may then swing this holder. as .far away :rmm this position as he Wishes .forjuse of the key, as, for example, to a position substantially in alignment with the housing as 'shownin .Fig; 5. Thekey may be readily swung from its position within its iholder by gripping it through'the notches 2G and swinging it to an operative position outside the holder, asshown in Figjand broken lines in Fig. 3. To return the key to the selector housing, these operations are naturally :reversed, the key being swung to its inoperative position within the holder and then the holder swung to its retracted position within the housing, where it will be automatically locked in place by its catch 22, this catch being shifted during its .movement by. carnrning action of the inclined edge 32 on the log 31 to permit the holder to move toits retracted position, after which the spring 27 .shifts the catch 63113,

lug 31 into the recess 32 .to lock the holder and the 'key therein in its retracted position within the housing.

It will be clear fromtheabove that .thekeys are ofthat each key is individually mounted and each is individually shiftable from its inoperative or retracted'position to its exposed or operative position, without in any in the casing opening when the'holder is in it retracted position, means in .each holder for pivotally mounting ,a

key therein to swing'from an inoperative position in the holder between the side walls to an extended operative position, and a releasablecatch for each holder to retain it in the casing andinc'lnding amanually operable means for releasing each catch.

2. A key container comprising a casing having an opening in a wall thereof, a plurality of key holders piv-. .otally .-n10.uute d :side by side in the casing and each swingable about zitsqpivot through-said opening independently .of each of the other holders from a retracted position in the casing to a position extending outwardly therefrom, .each holder comprising spaced side walls and a connecting top wall at one edge adapted to lie inthe opening in the casing, :and means for mounting a'key betweenitheside walls to shift from an inoperative position in .the holder toan extended operative position', and amanually releasable catch for each holder to lock it in its retracted position .in the casing.

3. A key container comprising a casing having spaced side-walls, .a connecting end wall, a bottom wall and a V fectively enclosed and protected within the housing, "and way disturbing the other keys, and that each individual keycan be so selected for use without interference vfrom any ,of the other keys, by the operator merely pushing or depressing the corresponding manually operable lug Having thus set .forth the nature of my invention, I

' claim: a

"1. A key container comprising a casing open at the :top, a plurality of keyholders "pivotally mounted in the casing an'd "each individually *swingable about its pivot from "a retracted position in'the casing to aposition outside the 'casing, each holder including sidewallstore 'ceiye akey be pentheni and a'transverse'edge wall lying top wall provided with arectangular opening,.a;pluralit y of key holders'nrranged side by side in the casing and v pivoted atone end .on a transverse pivot pinto swing through the opening from a retracted position in .the casingto a position extending outwardly therefrom,.each holder provided with means forpivotally mounting a :key in the holder to swing from an inoperative position therein to an extended operative position, said holders including walls at one edge to lie in substantially the plane of the top wall of the casing to fill the openingin this wall, and .a manually :operable releasable catch for each .helder-to retain it in its retracted position in the casing includingan operative lug extending through the end wall. V

4. A key container comprising acasing, a plurality of key holders pivotally mounted side by side'in' thecasing aadeachswingableabout its pivot independently of each of the other holders from a retracted position in the casing to a position extending outwardly therefrom, each holder being substantially U-shape in cross sectiQnin-J cluding spaced side walls and a connecting cross wall,

means on the side walls for pivotally mounting a key in eachholder to swing froman inoperative. position in the holder to an operative position extending therefrom, a manually operable releasable catch for each holder comprisinga longitudinally slidable member at one side of-the holder provided with a lug to seat in a notch ina side wall of the holder to retain thisholder in the retracted position in the casing, (a spring yieldably shifting said member .to. retain the lug in the recess, and f manual means for shifting the member against action of the spring torelease the holder. 7 7

5. A key container comprisinga ca sing having'spaced side walls and a .top wall providedwith .a rectangular 7 opening, aplurality ofkey' holders arranged sidebyside in the casingand each pivoted at one endto swing through the opening itrom aYretracted position in the'ca sing to a position extending outwardly therefrom, each holder provided with meanstor pivotally. mounting a key in the holder toswing fromian'inoperative position thereinto anextendedoperative position, said holders including walls atbneedge .tolieinsubstantially the plane of the top wall of .thecas'ing in the-opening in this wall to fill this opening, and :a manually operable releasable :catch for each 'holdentoretainitin its retracted position-in the casing.-

References Cited in the file of this patent STATES PATENTS 1573,72 3 Long Feb. '16, 1925 2308372 Kirkpatrick July '16, 1940 2 ,581 'Zie'gew'eid Mar. '21, 1-944 2,451,056 Berger-ct a1. Oct. 12,. 1948 2,481,359.

-Smyser'et a1. 1;. Sept. 6, 1949 

